A Study on Situated Cognition: Product Dissection's Effect on Redesign Activities

Abstract

Situation cognition theory describes the context of a learning activity's effect on learner's cognition. In this paper, we use situated cognition theory to examine the effect of product dissection on product redesign activities. Two research questions were addressed: 1) Does situated cognition, in the form of product dissection, improve product functionality during redesign exercise?, and 2) Does situation cognition, again in the form of product dissection, affect the creativity of product redesigns? In this study, three sections of first year students in two different locations -- The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) -- performed product redesign using either an electric toothbrush or a coffee maker. The redesigned products have been analyzed with respect to both depth (detail level) and creativity.

Meeting Name

22nd International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC/CIE2010 (2010: Aug. 15-18, Montreal, QC, Canada)

Department(s)

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Electric toothbrushes; First year students; Form of products; Learning Activity; Missouris; Penn State; Pennsylvania State University; Product dissection; Product redesign; Research questions; Science and Technology; Situated cognition; Situation cognition, Design, Computer science

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-079184414-4

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2010 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Aug 2010

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS